IRA offers outline to break stalemate

April 14, 2003

LONDON, BRITAIN — The Irish Republican Army, under pressure to disarm to save the Northern Ireland peace process, submitted a confidential statement to the British and Irish governments Sunday night outlining what it might do to break the stalemate.

In a brief message to the news media, the IRA said the statement would address its 6-year-old cease-fire, its future intentions and its attitude toward weapons. The group, which has twice secretly destroyed an unspecified quantity of arms in front of international monitors, said it would discuss a "third act of putting arms beyond use."

Political sources in Belfast said the statement had been given to the Irish and British governments, the sponsors of the peace agreement of 1998.

"We are studying it and will respond in due course," a spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

Dublin and London are urging the clandestine army to declare its 30-year-war with the British over, to disband and to give up its weapons.